Radical changes ahead for EU, says Theresa May’s deputy

The EU could undergo a radical transformation in the years to come, according to U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's de facto deputy.

“I think the EU itself is going to change ... we may be looking in a generation’s time at an EU that is configured differently from what it is today," David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister and former Europe minister, told the Telegraph in his first interview since being appointed as May's second-in-command.

“The exact nature of the relationship between the United Kingdom and that future system, whatever it turns out to be, of European cooperation is something that future parliaments, future generations will have to consider," he added.

Lidington also said the U.K. may enter into a customs union with the EU after March 2019, but stressed it won't be part of the current agreement between the EU and neighboring states such as Turkey.

“There are some serious flaws with the customs union as it’s currently established,” said Lidington.

He also ruled out the U.K. remaining part of the single market.

He said "we want trade to be as easy and frictionless as possible between this country and our 27 partners in the EU."

The U.K. lawmaker also said that ultimately the European continent needs to work together.

Mike

JEJV

It’s fortunate that the EU is drawing up a CETA-style agreement, so that in Novemember, having acheived nothing, May can sign on the dotted line.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 11:29 AM CET

Ulla Hansen

More nationstate – lesser top-botton arrogant EU technocracy, please!

Democray is an ongoing organic process, bound to a territorial space and all citizens living there – rich and poor, harvested through harsh history, and should be considered as such. If you killed that proces, and the believe system it represents, you end up with citizens with no loyalty to anything except themselves and their own narrow sphere of interests.

How does that work in the Middle East, just to mention an obvious example?

Carefull with what you are mingling with. – ‘If you break it you own it’, as it was once said. And remember how that turned out. It’s not that easily reconstructed in other dimensions.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 11:35 AM CET

François P

Most brexiteers are delusional. But many remainers are as well. Especially those who believe that the EU will change towards something compatible with UK preferences, while the UK isn’t sitting at the table.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 11:37 AM CET

Peter G

Well that was certainly a mouthful of mush. The future will be different from the now. No kidding? And he would like very much if the thing literally designed to create friction, the customs union, were frictionless. That is the problem from those outside of both the customs union and the political entity that is the EU isn’t it? So Britain does not rule out joining a customized customs union. A special customized customs union just for them? I do not think the EU is quite prepared to bake a special immortal cake that Britain can have and eat too. That’s really all he’s asking, that the EU learn to work together to provide Britain with what Britain wants.

Birdman

Typical example of yet another UK politician talking to his base in terms of “have cake and eat it”. It’s actually not that difficult to understand. No single market means the end of the current free circulation of financial services. Rethinking the customs union means several years of negotiations.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 11:44 AM CET

wow

@francoisP

delusional but you have not seen the news today haha.

Macron boosts May’s hopes of bespoke EU trade deal – Financial Times
FINANCIAL TIMES
1 hour ago – UK prime minister Theresa May’s hopes of negotiating a “bespoke” trade agreement with the EU in her Brexit negotiations have been given a significant boost, after French president Emmanuel Macron said Britain might get a “special” deal.

As usual you talk fairy eulalaland nonsense.

‘FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron has revealed that the EU will end up offering the UK a “bespoke trade deal” because Brussels recognize the “whole finances of Europe” are run through the City of London.’

Don’t worry you will forget by tommorrow that you said this today and insist the EU were ALWAYS going to meet the UK half way *LOL*

It is not the UK politicians, who will define what the EU would look like.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 12:29 PM CET

wow

@FrancoisP

You have been wrong repeatedly for a year and a half. At some point, you have to admit you are actually just a liar, no?

Macron says ‘special’ UK deal possible – BBC News
BBC NEWS
2 hours ago – Theresa May has repeatedly said the UK wants a bespoke trade deal with the EU after Brexit rather than a replica of any existing model. President Macron suggested that was possible, and said he hoped the deep and special partnership the Prime Minister seeks with the EU would become reality.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 12:32 PM CET

wow

The UK could undergo a radical transformation in the years to come. The independence of Scotland, the reunification of Ireland, the massive relocation of firms to the EU and massive inflation will transform the whole country.
And not for better

Posted on 1/20/18 | 12:51 PM CET

wow

@fake wow

Dear me …. of all the sad things to do in life… pretending to be little old me…

Jesus wept.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 1:19 PM CET

Saintixe

@wow

Nuances.

Nuances as in Lost in translations.
When you read what Macron said in French, same in English does not exactly match what is hidden behind the words. Same going when an English speaker is translated in a foreign language.

The bespoke deal does not include financial services. Personally I only take notice of one’s opinion when it is stated in one’s own language.

Plus it gives a colour comparable to none other. Plus it can be quite funny.

Importantly, I take a lot of people do not consider what exactly implies cut one’s nose to spite one’s face.
True , said face without the nose is quite ugly but in the long run who is more likely to survive: the nose on its own or the face who is attached to the rest of the body?

Somehow this interesting fact is seldom scrutinised. It should be none the less.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 1:31 PM CET

wow

@saintixe

When you read what macron said in fench…. nuance… you;re all wrong…

HIS INTERVIEW WAS IN ENGLISH ON UK TV.

He said while discussing financial services.

Please STOP COMPULSIVE LYING.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:14 PM CET

wow

@Saintixe

If he said it in french you would say everyone has misunderstood. If he says it in english .. everyone has misunderstood and you wonlt believe it.

You’re just a compulsive liar. Gosh, grow a pair will you and face reality?

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:16 PM CET

wow

No wonder the EU27 is doomed. Constant excuses and daft illogical arguments. We have seen it for 40 years. It’s a joke of epic proportions.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:18 PM CET

kermelen

To summarize, it’s NO to the Single Market but YES to the Customs Union.

But there is the problem: the Customs Union is only a consequence of the Single Market. It is only available under Single Market regulations. By rejecting the Single Market one will lose the Customs Union.

Because the effect is lost after the cause is removed. In a real world at least.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:27 PM CET

wow

@kermelen

We don’t need you to summarise with lies to suit yourself.

Off you go now trying to ‘sum up’ (wrongly) for us. It’s 2018 and we have all got internet access.

Nobody listens to your lies anymore and in the UK, we never did in the first place.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:43 PM CET

Peter2

EU have changed a lot during the last 20 years and will certainly continue changing.
It would be nice for a change to hear how UK is going to change. Currently that’s the question, in my opinion.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:47 PM CET

Saintixe

@wow

I suggest you listen to the BBC snippet. It is obvious your vision on a trade deal and Macron vision do not coincide

he states clearly Cake keep eat Non.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 4:56 PM CET

crispin hythe

Who cares what the whingeing poms say? I mean, really? Nothengland is the world’s saddest busted flush. All we want from them is Premier League Football and Dame Helen Mirren. Otherwise, shaddapayouface.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 5:19 PM CET

tpk

They still try to talk in a way to please both Brexiteers and economy. And that is still only possible by avoiding getting technical. Poor UK economy, they must get mad.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 5:26 PM CET

wow

@Saintixe

everyone is lying, Politico, BBC, Fiancial Times… etc.. everyone has seen the interview.

We don;t need you to interpret. We all know what he said. Just because you don’t like it, that is not my problem. It’s yours.

EuroTroll

EuroTroll

Posted on 1/20/18 | 9:19 PM CET

François P

@An American

Not half as funny as;-

Posted on 1/20/18 | 10:03 PM CET

An American

@François P

A classic. 🙂

Posted on 1/20/18 | 10:07 PM CET

tpk

Huston, we have a problem.
We seem to run out of serious Brexiteers in the forums. Even in Telegraph they start to dispair and see Remainers getting the upper hand everywhere. Please send some fresh ones, preferable with some good arguments at hand (additional to the usual repertoire of insults) and only a very slight inclination to youtube.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 10:32 PM CET

EuroTroll

@tpk

Still here just no one to have a sensible argument with only the EuroTrolls like you remain ! FO back under the stairs from where you can frighten the kiddies.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 10:55 PM CET

EuroTroll

@tpk

‘tpk’, Is that a mouthwash ?
You have nothing to do with Huston and you are not welcome anywhere else in the states.

Posted on 1/20/18 | 10:59 PM CET

tpk

@An American
And you are as American as a Bayrische Brezel in Amerika erfunden wurde.

Pitty, I liked this forum but it turns more and more into a kindergarden. Come one Politico, a little filter for Youtube is done in minutes. 2 lines of Code.

Posted on 1/21/18 | 9:09 AM CET

bluebell

@tpk
Come now do not be disheartened.

It is hardly surprising that those that post sometimes focus on the minutiae to argue their case. After all if our collective professional politicians were/are unable to fully comprehend the consequences of their actions/policies how are we amateurs (gifted or otherwise) supposed to?

Plus do you not think that sometimes a point of view can be made more effectively in an unexpected way (youtube videos, humour) rather than more formal debate?

The point is we are communicating (by whatever means) and surely that is a good thing.